.
People ask us fairly frequently why we do not carry Miracle-Gro Potting soil or fertilizers. There are MUCH better products on the market that we do carry.
For instance look at these two tomatoes, both the same variety, both planted last week. The plant on the left is potted in Sunshine All Purpose Planting Mix and the one on the right in Miracle Gro Potting Soil.
Neither plant has had fertilizer added and both get the same water and sun exposure. We will post more photos as time goes on but you can see that the right products can make a difference in your success. This comparison was done by a professional nursery.
The majority of Miracle-Gro’s product line is filled withchemicalsand synthetics. Miracle-Gro is also owned by Scotts, which is a HUGE supporter of Monsanto.
Miracle-Gro is mass produced, made with inferior ingredients that are cheap and destructive to the environment. Scotts has been found guilty many times in US Ferderal Court of purposely mislabeling products with carcinogens and using products that are lethal to wildlife and humans. Check out these recent violations:
EPA Orders Scotts To Stop Selling Unregistered Pesticides
(Beyond Pesticides, April 25, 2008)The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 this week issued a “stop sale, use or removal” order against Scotts Miracle Gro Co. and three affiliates, all of Marysville, Ohio, for illegal, unregistered and misbranded weed and fertilizer products with a cancer causing and endocrine disrupting pesticide ingredient. EPA will also issue a stop sale order to Scotts Lawn Care Service.Scotts has agreed to recall two products from all retail locations across the United States and to set up a process for consumers to safely return any unregistered products they may have purchased. EPA ordered the companies, collectively an international producer and distributor of lawn care products, to immediately stop selling and distributing the products which can be identified by the invalid “EPA registration number” listed on the package. Invalid registration number 62355-4 is marketed under names including “Garden Weed Preventer + Plant Food” and “Miracle Gro Shake ‘n’ Feed All Purpose Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer.” The active ingredient of this product is trifluralin, an herbicide that is a possible carcinogen and probable endocrine disruptor, among itshealth effects.
Scotts Miracle-Gro Caught Again, This Time a Record Penalty for Pesticide Violations
http://www.enewspf.com –Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–September 11, 2012. Lawn company giant, Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., pleaded guilty to numerous charges of misleading consumers with unapproved labels and falsifying insecticide registrations, including using toxic chemicals in wild bird food. Scotts was ordered to pay $12.5 million in criminal fines, the largest penalty ever set under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Scotts admitted to using Storcide II and Actellic 5E to prevent insects from damaging the bird food in storage, even though it knew both chemicals were toxic to birds, fish, and other wildlife. In 2008, Scotts Miracle-Gro ceased sales of the tainted birdseed but not before 70 million units of the pesticide-tainted food was sold. Thesentence imposedin federal court in Columbus, Ohio, includes a $4 million criminal fine, the Justice Department said. Separately, the company agreed to pay more than $6 million in civil penalties to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and contribute $500,000 to organizations to protect bird habitats and restore and protect 300 acres of land to prevent runoff of pesticides into waterways –valued at $2 million. EPA has identified more than 100 products produced or sold by Scotts Miracle-Gro that violated the federal pesticide laws over the past five years.
Storcide II contains chlorpyrifos-methyl anddeltamethrin, while Actellic 5E contains pirimiphos-methyl.Chlorpyrifos-methyl, an organophosphate insecticide, was voluntary cancelled in 2000, and like its cousinchlorpyrifos, is a neurotoxin toxic to humans and wildlife.Pirimiphos-methylis also an organophosphate and is noted as being highly toxic to birds and fish.
FAQs
Gardeners should steer clear of Miracle-Gro soil due to the presence of chemical additives in many of their products. While Miracle-Gro promises quick growth and vibrant plants, these chemicals can have negative effects on both the environment and the overall well-being of your garden.
What is the problem with Miracle Grow soil? ›
MG is so strong that if used incorrectly, the fertilizer will actually burn the leaves and roots of your plants (you may have already experienced this). Imagine what it's doing to the healthy bacteria, fungi and other soil microbes that are working so hard to provide the nutrients your plants need.
What happens if you put too much Miracle-Gro on plants? ›
Too much fertilizer can potentially cause a chemical burn on the roots of your plant. In severe cases, it can also cause the whole plant to wilt and die. This is something that you might see happen within a few days of fertilizing. You'll need to act quickly if your plant has been overfertilized.
Why not use Miracle Grow on vegetables? ›
Some gardeners argue that frequent use of synthetic fertilizers like Miracle-Gro can lead to a build-up of salts in the soil over time, potentially harming beneficial soil microbes and impacting long-term soil health.
Is Miracle-Gro bad for you? ›
Chemicals found in synthetic fertilizers are known to affect human lungs, urinary systems, and more. The primary ingredients in synthetic fertilizers like Miracle-Gro are urea nitrogen and ammonium sulfate. When exposed to the air, these compounds can create a greenhouse gas that damages human lungs.
What is a good substitute for Miracle-Gro? ›
Your neighbours could use liquid kelp or fish emulsion. They are liquid products that are diluted in water and then used to water the plants – ideal for containers. Fish emulsion has a bit of a smell when you're mixing it up, but when it is absorbed by the soil, you don't smell anything. I have used it for houseplants.
What is the best fertilizer for vegetable gardens? ›
Most gardeners should use a complete fertilizer with twice as much phosphorus as nitrogen or potassium. An example would be 10-20-10 or 12-24-12. These fertilizers usually are easy to find. Some soils contain enough potassium for good plant growth and don't need more.
Are there bugs in Miracle Grow potting soil? ›
Miracle Grow does have fungus gnats.
Can I just sprinkle fertilizer on top of soil? ›
There are several ways granular and powdered fertilizer can be applied. On our beds we amend with plenty of compost at the beginning of the planting season, work in, smooth out and sprinkle fertilizers over the surface and lightly work into the top 2" of soil.
Can you mix Epsom salt with Miracle-Gro? ›
Use Epsom Salt for Big Garden Yields
To grow huge flowers (and lots of veggies), I use Epsom salt for my garden. Mix 6 tablespoons Epsom salts and 6 tablespoons Miracle-Gro fertilizer in the hand sprayer attached to my garden hose, says Birds & Blooms reader Juanita Scalia.
Feed requirements will vary as the plant matures. Some guiding principles are: Nutrients or plain water: For coco and Rockwool, use nutrients at each watering. For soils with high capacity to retain nutrients (high CEC), it may be beneficial to use nutrients at just each alternate watering.
Why do gardeners not like Miracle-Gro? ›
Miracle-Gro contains urea nitrogen, which is a synthetic form of nitrogen that is commonly found in commercial fertilizers. Urea nitrogen is a fast-acting nitrogen source that is quickly absorbed by plants. It is important to note that too much urea nitrogen can lead to over-fertilization, which can harm plants.
Should I put Miracle-Gro on my tomatoes? ›
Tomato plants have big appetites and need a steady supply of plant food to grow their best. Miracle-Gro® Performance Organic® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules feeds both your plants and the beneficial microbes in the soil (which help plants take up all the nutrition they need) for up to 6 weeks.
Who owns Miracle-Gro? ›
Miracle-Gro
| Product type | Garden supplies |
|---|
| Owner | OMS Investments Inc. |
| Country | USA |
| Previous owners | Scotts Miracle Gro Inc. |
| Registered as a trademark in | UK 2001 |
1 more rowMiracle-Gro Garden Feeder does not contain insecticide therefore should be safe for bees if used as directed. Some blooming plants that have been treated with insecticides may be less attractive to bees over time.
Does Miracle-Gro have bugs? ›
Miracle Grow does have fungus gnats.
Will Miracle-Gro bring a plant back to life? ›
Help your plants get back on track with the magic elixir of Miracle-Gro® Rescue™ Outdoor Plant Potion™. This super simple 3-step process restores and replenishes plants back to thriving in just 7 days. The system includes 3 ready-to-use sachets.
Is Miracle-Gro owned by Monsanto? ›
The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle- Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto.
